Companion Care at Home: What Is it and What Are the Benefits?
Companion care at home offers aging seniors regular visits and socialization to help them not feel alone.
There are many different types of home care, and some of them offer very specific types of assistance to seniors and family members. When seniors are in the beginning stages of aging in place, they may find that they’re spending a lot more time alone than they expect. That’s where companion care at home can be useful for aging adults and family caregivers.
What Is Companion Care at Home?
Companion care at home offers a type of non-medical care for seniors. These caregivers don’t offer personal care assistance or help with household tasks, either, like elderly care providers often do. This care centers on companionship and being a friendly face for seniors to talk to regularly. Social engagement is extremely important for overall well-being, and companion caregivers can help family members stay informed about how their aging adults are doing.
What Companion Care Is Not
It’s really important for families to understand what companion care at home services are and what they are not. While home health care and skilled nursing care at home are available, companion caregivers do not help with any sort of health issues or medical needs. They’re not able to help seniors with tasks like changing clothes, bathing, or household tasks, either.
If seniors need that type of assistance, it’s better for them to work with home care providers or medical providers, depending on what they need.
Enhancing Emotional Well-being
Regular visits from companion caregivers help to reduce isolation and feelings of loneliness. Having something to look forward to can also help to reduce anxiety that seniors might experience.
It’s also helpful when seniors know that someone will be stopping by. They don’t have to worry about spending so much time alone and feeling concerned that something might happen and no one would know. Because they know they’ve got regular visits scheduled, they can relax a bit.
Offering Peace of Mind for Families
Knowing that seniors have regular social interaction and emotional support is incredibly soothing for family members and friends of aging adults. This type of help is even more important when friends and families live far away from the seniors they love. When companion caregivers see something changing for seniors, they can keep family members aware of what’s happening.
Promoting Independence
One of the reasons that seniors opt to age in place is because they want to hold onto as much of their independence as they can. For many seniors, when they first start aging in place they can handle most of what life sends their way pretty easily. But some aspects of daily life, like maintaining routines that help them remain healthy and happy, aren’t always easy.
Companion care at home caregivers can also help encourage aging adults to stay active and engaged in the things they love doing, which helps boost independence even more.
Seniors Who Benefit from Companion Care Services
Companion care at home services are most helpful for seniors who live alone and might feel lonely and isolated. Companion caregivers can also be there for seniors who need other types of assistance. Having a break from talking only to medical providers can be a huge relief, for instance.
Companion care at home increases the chances that seniors have a fulfilling and independent experience as they age in place. No one wants to spend all of their time alone if they don’t have to, and companion caregivers give seniors someone to spend time with as often as they like.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home in Lake Forest, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 948-0860. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette, and the surrounding areas.
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